Hi
This was our second visit to the Macia Plaza - we came 18 months ago - mainly from recommendations on this site. It really is above average and if you speak some Spanish and ask for the room/floor you want in advance - you'll get it! We asked for a quiet, dark, cool room (Granada had a "ola de calor" - a heat wave!) and we got 409 - great. The decor is a bit bland and the breakfast basic but sufficient. It's a small place but the best part is it's location - right in Plaza Nueva! Walk to the bus stop opposite for the Alhambra, walk down the Darro to the Albaician (and the secret Los Banuelos tea rooms!) and nearby are all the best tapas bars. We found all the staff helpful and chatty - a little Spanish goes a long way. The classical music in the breakfast room was a nice touch but please get some better coffee!!
Go down to the Capilla Real and buy the bono touristico ticket (22.5€) - gets you into the Alhambra at a time to suit you, buys you 9 rides on ANY main bus plus free entry to all the other sites - recommend the science park!
Next time we may pick a new hotel but just for a change!
Steve Carter

Sure, it is cheap and location is perfect. But the staff especially the receptionist is not friendly and helpful.

My partner and I looked at each other in a "oh dear" expression when we entered the hotel. The sight of the receptionist chewing gum at the same time speaking in a hassled way on the phone, while there was a queue of people to check in, does not look promising.

The hotel is supposed to be non-smoking and I specifically requested for one as I suffer from asthma. Our room on the fourth floor stank of cigarette smoke and the cleaner did not even bother to get rid of the ashtray left by the previous occupants, or at least spray some air freshener to mask the smell.

I went down and nicely explained to the receptionist about the room and my asthma. The reply was a pathetic shrug and "I can not do anything about it as I am on my own, I can not possibly monitor all the clients if they smoke in their rooms". Still maintaining a polite smile, I asked if at all possible to be transferred to another room. Reply was "It is very busy, all rooms are taken!" The lack of help, apology and polite explanation got my blood boiling that I manage to take the stairs up to the fourth floor to complain to my partner. We wished we have paid more for a quality hotel.

Still, Granada is a beautiful place and the lack of customer service at the hotel did not stop us enjoying the perfect ending to our Andalucia tour.

But our main message is to avoid Macia plaza hotel at all cost - appalling customer service, double room is small and lacks character. You'll be better off with an upmarket hostal!

This hotel is well-located and is about the best thing I can say about it--otherwise it would get one dot. The location is perfect for the traveler coming to Granada for what most people come to Granada for, to see the Alhambra. Plaza Nueva is at the heart of the tourist action, buses (and taxis) to and from the Alhambra just steps from the hotel. Plus it's very close to the royal chapel/cathedral, another important sight in Granada. We didn't find any good places to eat in the area (seemed mostly overrun by tourist establishments with poor offerings). The location is excellent, but my praise mostly ends there. The bathroom was new and sparkling, so that was great, but in every other way the hotel was barely average. Room was WAY too small for our family. They said the room was a double and big enough for an extra bed (for our son). I about died when I opened the door. All three beds were smashed edge-to-edge, wall-to-wall to fit them in. And with our luggage there was literally no room to walk--we had to walk across the beds to get to the bathroom! The room was also very tired and had a very institutional feel--hospitalesque. Hotel was also noisy, and we had an interior room. Guests walking up and down the halls were really disruptive, and they weren't doing anything but normal chatting as they walked past. The hotel breakfast is pathetic--horribly overpriced for the crummy, prepackaged pasteries, etc. they offer. Do not waste your money on breakfast here. I really cannot recommend this hotel. There simply has to be better options in Granada. I was wishing we had booked Hotel America next to the Alhambra, which looked so pretty and with those handy mini-buses getting down to Plaza Nueva/the heart of the city would have been a snap.

The best part about the hotel is its location, right on Plaza Nueva. We took the advice of previous travellers, and asked for a room away from the Plaza which was very quiet. The interior is quite nice, the rooms were adequate, and the beds were fine.

Breakfast in the basement was worthwhile. Taxis are easy to find on the Plaza. The bus to the Alhambra leaves from the Plaza. The TI is just down the street. Given the excavations on the major streets, a taxi from the bus station was worthwhile.

The receptionist at the hotel recommended Tavernas Sakinas, just around the corner from the hotel which was excellent.

Don't miss visiting the cathedral which is very attractive.